Recently my family and I moved over 1700 miles away from our home for the past 2 and 1/2 years. We had moved in the past but, with our children, it has been a very different adventure. We were on the road for five days and I can admit, we learned a few lessons along the way. I’d like to share some of our lessons as tips for those of you planning on traveling or moving with your children.

1. Be flexible. You may have a great schedule for your children. Naps and meals may be perfectly timed, but this may not be the case for your travels. For example, my son always takes a nap after lunch. In the car, he took it much earlier. We would drive until he awoke and then stop for lunch. At first, I was dismayed. I felt that I needed to keep him on the same, predictable time schedule. However, I did find that once we were settled, he fell right back into the expected. 

2. Be ready for your role as Entertainment Director Extraordinaire!  You WILL need props, including toys, songs, audiobooks, etc. I brought along a Magnadoodle for my son to play with. He really enjoyed it the first day….not so much the second. I had to be creative. I’m sure any passersby noticed our “family truckster” as we sang “If you’re Happy and You Know it” or “Wheels on the Bus” for the gazillionth time. Of course, we also had a game of pointing out each and every item of interest for my son. Once we arrived at our new home, we needed to wait for our belongings. Again we needed to come up with exciting activities for him. Be sure to pack for these moments. You can print up some fun activities at Preschool Printables or DLTK Kids.

3. We traveled an average of 5 hours a day. We found that a stop in the middle for lunch was perfect. I would definitely recommend stopping at an outdoor picnic area or restaurant, if weather permitting. My oldest just wanted to be free of his belts and be able to stretch his legs. My youngest was happiest to be in our arms and snuggling close. For the night meal, either pack a variety of foods or order in,  so that you can enjoy the freedom of your hotel. Although hunger may hit, you’ll find that your children will not want to go back in the car…and neither will you. A cooler packed with snacks, sandwiches, etc. may be the very thing to provide peace for your evenings.

4. Consider your sleeping arrangements carefully. For our first two nights, we reserved suites in advance. Our first night was comfortable in a two room suite (a bedroom and sitting room) that allowed our son to sleep in his pack-n-play separately from us. This meant we did not have to go to bed at his bedtime and would not disturb him with the television. Unfortunately, the second night was spent in a suite that was just a larger room without the division of rooms. If you can swing it and it’s available….go for the two room suite. (On a side note, I can recommend La Quinta Inns and Suites, they offer two room suites that are reasonably-priced and comfortable. They also allow pets without a deposit and have free wireless internet in all of the rooms).  

5. If traveling by car, the importance of a DVD player cannot be understated. Although I don’t believe in tons of television for my sons, this is one occasion where it can make a somewhat unbearable situation tolerable. Some of the areas we drove through were exciting for my son, lots of trucks or farm animals to look at. Unfortunately, the terrain became flatter and less interesting for him as we moved along. Having a few Thomas and Friends episodes for him to watch or a Juno Baby DVD (see our earlier review) really helped.

If you have any other suggestions on traveling or thoughts on my tips, please visit our forums to weigh in.